Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Oil, Gas Plants in Samara and Orenburg Regions

Ukrainian drone forces have escalated attacks deep inside Russia, targeting key energy infrastructure including the Orenburg gas processing plant operated by Gazprom and the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in Samara Oblast. The Orenburg facility, one of the world's largest gas chemical complexes, sustained damage and fires following the drone strikes, causing a temporary suspension of gas intake from Kazakhstan's Karachaganak field. Similarly, the Novokuybyshevsk refinery, a major producer with a refining capacity exceeding 4.9 million tons annually, experienced fires and damage during the attack, marking the fifth strike on this facility in 2025 alone. Russian authorities reported intercepting dozens of Ukrainian drones across multiple regions during these coordinated strikes, underscoring the intensifying scope of Ukraine's campaign to disrupt Russian energy supplies. These attacks signal a strategic effort by Ukraine to weaken Russia's military fuel logistics and highlight vulnerabilities within Russia's critical energy infrastructure amid ongoing conflict. The incidents have raised concerns about potential broader impacts on global energy markets and geopolitical stability in Eastern Europe.